Dear Banjo,

Sorry, you've lost me. Perhaps you'd like
to give us your definition of marriage then
we can go from there.

Banjo

Marriage is marriage whether a civil celebration or performed in a religious building.

Also, there is nothing in the wedding vows (civil or Christian, don't know about other religions) in Australia that requires a couple to procreate. No mention of children at all.

You want same sex couples to use a different word to everyone else?

Perhaps they should sew a big pink 'X' in their clothes as well.

Bigotry, much.

If that is so, why not just change the meaning to include SS couples?

We have done that with many words as the linguist on 'Can We Help' often explains.

The term 'marriage' was coined based on past cultural norms and societies evolve through education. Why not just make it inclusive. It seems ridiculous to have a different 'word' for the same act.

Banjo, same sex union is called homosexuality, regardless of whether the participants play mummy and daddy or are just horny lovers. Legal rights of a life partner are the issue, not the civil union as such, but the bonus of social acceptance is expected through social familiararity. If the homosexual wants to protect their partner’s future if they are deceased they should make a will.

Just a thought I wonder if the libido in lesbians tends to wane as does the libido in the poor old housewife and mum, not tonight dear I have a headache.

Alternately I wonder if the male couple sex till they drop because of the rampant libido of guys.

Pelican,
Firstly thankyou for the term linguist, I could not think of the word at the time of writing.

Ammonite,
I never mentioned religion or the ceromony, I don't know where you got that idea from. Nor have I mentioned procreation or children.

Why would you think bigotry. I am talking about 3 different types of union, one female/female, another male/male and another male/female. Please read my posts again.

lexi,
My definition of marriage is--- 'The legal union or contract made by a man and a woman to live as husband and wife' My dictionary confirms that.

Because the unions, as mention above, are different to each other, I think there should be differing terms for each. The only commonality is that they are unions. Much the same way as cars, trucks and busses are all vehicles, but we have different names for them because they are different, and it saves further explanation.

By all means give the unions legality, but there is sufficient difference to warrant different terms for them.

Dear Banjo,

Why not simply have the term "marriage,"
as the only term. Regardless whether the consenting
adults are female/female, male/male, or female/
male? Segregating gay couples sets them aside
from mainstream society. If they're married -
they're married. And as they say, "Love and Marriage,
goes together like a horse and carriage."